University Relations, Foundation Staff Win Statewide Awards

September 12, 2018

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Office of University Relations and the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association earned awards in the annual competition sponsored by the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association.

A redesign of the University’s website – www.nwosu.edu - earned Northwestern a second place award in that category. The redesigned website launched last August and has won praise for its new look, functionality and new content.

One judge had this to say about the project: “Kudos to an absolutely massive and successful overhaul of your website. It functions much better now.”

Valarie Case, university relations specialist, Steve Valencia, associate vice president for university relations, and former employee Ali Kirtley led the project, along with the web design team at Oklahoma City-based Liquidfish.

The Foundation’s Imagine Northwestern campaign-launch video captured second place in the video feature category.

The video, available at www.imaginenorthwestern.com, was the centerpiece of the campaign’s public launch last April. It set the tone for a campaign that has raised $25.6 million.

John Allen, director of alumni relations, and former Foundation marketing manager Jennifer Freemyer, directed the project with assistance from Northwestern’s University Relations team and Oklahoma City advertising firm Staplegun.

The introduction of a Northwestern-branded BBQ sauce received honorable mention in the bright idea category.

Working in partnership with the makers of the popular sauce, JR Okie Smokie, the University launched Ranger BBQ Sauce this spring. A portion of the sales is returned to Northwestern to support student programs.